Improvement in processes for destroying ants



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JOHN J. DULANY AND HENRY DItEYER, OF OAKLAND, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES FOR DESTROYING ANTS.

Specification forming part of Iietters Patent No. 144,075, dated October 28, 1873; application filed August 30, 1673.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J oHN J. DULANY and HENRY DREYER, of Oakland, county of 0010- rado and State of Texas, have invented anew and Improved Process for Destroying Ants; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for protectin g growing crops, especially cotton, from the ants which are so destructive in some sections of the cotton-growing regions. It consists in the process hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

First, we make a hole perpendicularly into the main cells with an earth anger, or in any other manner, ten or fifteen feet deep. This hole we fill about half full with wood or other combustible material. We now introduce a pipe, which intersects the hole about in the middle, or from five to seven feet from the surface. We now prepare any poisonous chemical compound, such as may be readily vaporized by heat.

We have found the following ingredients to be successful: One bushel of coal, which will be ignited by the wood and produce carbonicacid gas; ninety pounds of sulphur; four pounds of tobacco; half apound of phosphorus; half a pound of cyanide of potassium. These ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

We now connect a bellows, by means of a flexible tube, with a pipe, and ignite the wood in the perpendicular hole, atthe same time forcing in air with the bellows. When the wood is well ignited or burning, we put the above compound in the hole and tightly close it while the bellows are working. The gases generated will permeate every part of the ants habitations, and destroy all animal life.

The cells of one of these ant-communities are connected by subterranean passages, so that by one application all the cells will be reached.

These ants commit their depredations at night. In the day-time they are housed and are readily destroyed by this process.

Having thus described our invention, We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The process of destroying ants by blowing poisonous vapors into their cells, in the manner described.

' JOHN J. DULANY.

HENRY DREYER. Witnesses:

JOHN W. BLAKNEY, I. F. PAYNE. 

